Discounted Rain Barrels Available to Medford Residents

The City of Medford is offering residents an opportunity to purchase rain barrels at a significant discount.

“We are thrilled to be offering this simple and inexpensive device to our residents to bring down their water costs, help our community protect their aquifers and manage water supplies,” said Mayor Michael J McGlynn.

In New England, residential water usage can increase as much as 60% during the extended summer season from outdoor watering needs such as watering gardens, lawns, filling pools and, washing cars. Rain barrels offset that increase; saving homeowners money and helping the community manage water supplies. Rain barrels also reduce runoff. In the Mystic River Watershed, runoff can harm existing wetlands, ponds and the rivers because storm sewers discharge polluted runoff.

Suzanne Gebelein, Owner of the Great American Rain Barrel Company said, “Communities nationwide, like Medford, are bringing programs to their cities, encouraging more residents to be more sustainable but also to help mitigate pollution in the water supplies and save money on rising water bills.”

Homeowners can connect the barrels to their downspouts and save as much as 1700 gallons in a season with a single barrel. Just keeping a small 10’ x 10’ garden irrigated during the summer months can mean using that amount of water. Based on the average roof size, more than two 60 gallon rain barrels would fill for every 1/10” of rainfall. One barrel is recommended for every 100 square feet garden.

The barrels are offered in three colors; Forest Green, Earth Brown or Nantucket Gray, at the low cost of $69 versus the retail price of $119. Each barrel comes with a spigot, overflow valve, hose, and mosquito screen. Diverters to connect to your rainspouts as well as solar powered pumps for use with the barrels are available through the program as well.